Dust control system



Dec. 25, 1962 R. F. NORRICK 3,070,180

DUST CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Oct. 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGI.

ATTORNEY.

W BY

Dec. 25, 1962 nn .i|vl||||.. u m m B u MR e f, R e u E M mw 6 W u I F t I 9 ll I T m f m Q, m q 2 m r 0 R 3 n G. u mn H m I m n a 0 u & m 4 r m 6 m B F V n u T E n 2 8 ll 5 w 5 u I I I I I I I I I i l llll- 3 6 l w. l. n 0 d e l i F 3,070,180 DUST (ZUNTRGL SYSTEM Robert F. Norrick, Michigan City, lnd., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Get. 16, 1958, Ser. No. 767,721 9 Claims. (Cl. 175-206) This invention relates to dust control systems and more particularly to a dust control system for an earth boring drill wherein the heavier chips in the dust stream flowing from the drill hole during drilling may flow either to a dust collector on the machine or be diver-ted from the dust stream to a pile on the ground.

In known earth boring drills such as the Joy 59-BH and 60-BH Champion rotary blast hole drills a mobile base carries a rotary drilling mechanism for drilling up right holes in the earth formation for blasting purposes and the drill dust blown from the hole during drilling is usually directed to a dust collector on the machine whereby the line dust and chips may be collected at the top of the drill hole. The heavier particles or relatively large chips of abrasive rock flowing to the dust collector cause substantial wear of the collector parts resulting in substantial maintenance down-time and expense for replacement.

The present invention contemplates improvements over known types of drill dust control systems in that means is provided whereby the heavier dust particles such as abrasive chips may be diverted from the dust stream flowing to the dust collector on the machine so that wear and cost of replacement time and expense are substantially reduced. By the provision of such dust control means it is possible to divert the heavier chips from the dust stream to a suitable storage point on the ground near the top of the drill hole so that only the relatively fine dust continues to how to the dust collector. By depositing the heavier particles or chips so diverted on the ground beneath the machine it is possible not only to sample the formation being drilled but also to use the chips for purposes of stemming the drill hole after loading with explosives for blasting.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved dust control system especially designed for use with earth drilling machines. Another object is to provide a receptacle providing a chamber at the top of the hole being drilled for receiving the dust blown from the hole during drillirg and for directing the dust to a dust collector on the machine, with the chamber having closure controlled passage means whereby the heavier chips may at will be diverted from the dust stream and deposited on the ground beneath the machine. A further object is to provide a shiftable closure means for a dust control system whereby the heavier chips blown in the dust stream from the drill hole may be directed either to the dust collector on the machine or diverted to a pile on the ground. These and other objects and advantages will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a Joy Blast Hole Drill equipped with an illustrative form of the improved dust control system.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the drill shown in FIG. 1, with a portion of the structure thereof omitted to show the dust receiving means on the drill at the top of the hole being drilled.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the dust receiving receptacle or chamber-providing housing.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a detail vertical section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3, showing the shiftable closure or door and its power actuator.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4, with the door in closed position.

FIG. 7 is a cross section through the dust receiving receptacle taken on line 7--7 of FIG. 3 with a portion thereof being broken away to more clearly show the structure thereof.

FIG. 8 is a detail cross section taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 6, showing the passageway for the flow of dust from the drill hole to the dust collector on the drill.

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention, as shown in the drawings, the improved dust collecting receptacle or dust collecting casing is generally designated 1 and is desirably mounted beneath a machine frame 2 mounted on a mobile base 3 of a conventional rotary drilling machine, generally designated 4. The base 3 is of the conventional crawler type and includes a transverse axle 5 which passes through the dust receiving receptacle or casing 1. A conventional dust collector or dust separator 6 on the machine receives the dust blown from the drill hole for collecting the dust and relatively heavier dust particles or abrasive chips at the top of the hole being drilled. The drilling machine includes usual rotating mechanism 7 and usual feeding means 8 for a conventional drill string or rod line 9 which at its lower end carries a drill bit 10 for forming a hole 11 in the earth formation.

The improved dust collecting receptacle or casing 1 is suitably mounted beneath the machine .frame 2 between the crawler treads in a position surrounding the drill string at the top of the hole being drilled so that the dust blown from the drill hole in a conventional manner may flow into the receptacle which has a chamber 12.

The chamber-providing housing or receptacle casing may be composed of fabricated sheet metal and is desirably in the form of a generally rectangular inverted box 13 extending longitudinally beneath the drill and having a depending flexible wall or skirt 14 extending about its perimeter down to the ground surface to provide the dust receiving chamber. This flexible wall or skirt may flex as the drilling machine travels over an uneven terrain or when obstacles on the ground are encountered. The dust receptacle in this instance has an annular portion or ring 15 surrounding the drill string 9 (FIG. 4) and depending from this annulus is an annular flexible wall or skirt 16 similar to the outer flexible wall 14, and this skirt provides an annular vertical passageway 17 surrounding the drill string above the ground level so that dust blown from the drill hole may flow upwardly through the passageway 17 to a transverse horizontal passageway 18 and thence upwardly through an upright conduit 19 to the dust collector on the machine. Sealingly engaging the drill string and mounted at the top of the casing is a flexible seal or sealing annulus 20 which prevents dust leakage from the casing upwardly about the rod periphery. As indicated the passageway 18 extends horizontally between the passageway 17 and the conduit 19. Referring to FIG. 6 it will also be noted that the portion of the passageway 18 adjacent the passageway 17 extends perpendicular to the axle 5, V the portion of the passageway 18 adjacent the conduit 19 extends parallel to the axle 5 and that such adjacent portions are connected by means of a transition portion extending angularly therebetween. Thus, the passageway 18 forms an air flow path in which the direction of the air flow is abruptly changed as the air flow progresses downstream thereof. As shown the transition portion ex.- tends at an angle of 45 degrees with reference to the end portions of the passageway 18. If desired, the transition portion 70 can extend at other suitable angles with respect to the ends of the passageway 18.

By such construction of the passageway 18 the heaviest particles entrained in the air flow stream are carried by their momentum to the outermost side of the transition pontion 70, that is, the side having the greatest radius of curvature with reference to the air flow stream. In order to permit such heavy entrained particles to be removed from the air stream the side of the transition portion 70 remote from the passageway 17 is in the form of a swingable gate or door 22 which when closed, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 5, cuts off flow of dust through an opening 23 into the chamber 12 of the casing. When the door 22 is closed the relatively fine dust and heavier particles such as abrasive chips in the air stream are directed upwardly through the passageways 17, 18 and conduit 19 to the dust collector 6, as shown in FIG. 8. When the door 22 is in open position, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the heavier abrasive chip, dust or rock particles resist having their flow direction changed so that they are carried by their momentum through the opening 23 into the chamber 12 as shown in PiG. 4. The chips accumulate in a pile on the ground within the chamber 12 to provide a better air seal at the bottom edge of the chamber 12'.

The door 22 is pivotably mounted on the top of the casing at 21 and is opened and closed in any desired manner. For illustrative purposes, a fluid cylinder 24 is pivotally mounted at 25 on a bracket 26 attached to the top of the casing. Reciprocable in the cylinder is a piston '27 having a piston rod 28 pivotally connected at 29 to a lever 3-0 secured to the swingable door. Thus when fluid under pressure is properly supplied to the cylinder 24 the door may be swung into its open and closed posit-ions as desired, under the control of any suitable valve means.

When the drilling of the hole 11 in the earth formation has been completed the drill string or rod line may be elevated from the hole in the usual manner and the machine may be moved from above the hole to another location and after the blast hole has been loaded with explosives the piled up chips may be used in stemming the hole in a well known manner. Also by having the heavier abrasive chips from the air stream flow into the casing chamber 12, where the chips may pile up on the ground, only relatively fine dust flows to the dust collector on the machine thereby increasing the life of the parts of the dust collector and substantially reducing down-time and maintenance expense. At any time as desired including during the drilling operation the door 22 may be closed so that the chips in the dust stream flow to the dust collector 6 where the heavier abrasive chips may be separated from the dust stream for purposes of sampling the formation being drilled. Also such sampling may be accomplished by opening the door 22 so that the heavier chips are removed from the air stream and pile up directly on the ground beneath the machine. Arranged at the top of the receptacle is a pivoted door 31 which may be opened to obtain access to the interior of the casing for sampling or other purposes, if desired.

As a result of this invention an improved dust control system is provided whereby the dust blown from a drill hole during the drilling operation may have the heavier abrasive rock particles or chips diverted from the air stream so that only relatively fine dust may flow to the dust collector on the machine, thereby to reduce wear and maintenance cost. By the provision of the dust receiving receptacle arranged beneath the drilling machine at the top of the drill hole the dust blown from the hole may flow through passageways within the casing to the dust collector on the machine and by the provision of the movable closure or door the heavier abrasive chips may be diverted from the dust stream into the casi g chamber where they may be collected in a pile on the ground. The improved dust control system is relatively simple and rugged in design and may be applied to a conventional blast hole drilhwith a' minimum of change.

Other advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for disposing of the material drilled by an earth boring drill comprising, a casing having an open bottom to form an enclosed chamber in conjunction with the ground, passageway means defining an elongated flow path for a medium in which matter discharged from such a drill is entrained, said passageway means having at least a portion thereof located within said chamber, and said portion of said passageway means having means for removing the heavier matter entrained in such a medium for deposit on the portion of the ground cooperative with said casing to form said chamber.

2. Apparatus for disposing of the material drilled by an earth boring drill comprising, a casing having an open bottom to form in conjunction with the ground an enciosed chamber at the top of a hole being drilled, passageway means extending from the top of such a hole and through said chamber to define an elongated flow path for a medium in which matter discharged from such a drill is entrained, and a portion of said passageway means within said chamber having means for removing heavier matter entrained in such a medium for deposit on the portion of the ground cooperative with said casing to form said chamber.

3. Apparatus for disposing of the material drilled by an earth boring drill comprising, a casing having an open bottom to form in conjunction with the ground an on closed chamber at the top of a hole being drilled, passageway means defining an elongated flow path for a medium in which matter discharged from such a drill is entrained, said passageway means having at least a portion thereof located Within said chamber in which the direction of said flow path is changed, and an opening in the side of said portion of said passageway means having the greatest radius of curvature with reference to said flow path for directing the heavier matter entrained in such a medium for discharge therethrough and deposit on the portion of the ground cooperative with said casing to form said chamber.

4. Apparatus for disposing of the material drilled by an earth boring drill comprising, a casing having an open bottom to form in conjunction with the ground an enclosed chamber at the top of a hole being drilled, passageway means defining an elongated flow path for a medium in which matter discharged from such a drill is entrained, said passageway means having an open end portion for encompassing the hole drilled, said passageway means having at least a portion thereof located within said chamber for changing the direction of said flow path, an opening in the side of said portion of said passageway means having the greatest radius of curvature with reference to said flow path for directing heavier matter entrained in such a medium for discharge therethrough and deposit on the portion of the ground cooperative with said casing to form said chamber, and a gate supported by said passageway means selectably operable to open or close said opening for selectively directing such heavier matter into said chamber. I

5. Apparatus for disposing of the material drilled by an earth boring drill comprising, a casing having a side portion to form in conjunction with the ground an open bottomed chamber at the top of a hole being drilled, at least the portion of said side portion engageable with and adjacent the ground being flexible to permit movement over the ground, passageway means defining an elongated flow path in which matter discharged from such a drill is entrained, said passageway means having at least a portion thereof located within said chamber for changing direction of said flow path, and an opening in the side of said portion of said passageway means having the greatest radius of curvature with reference to said flow path for directing the heavier matter in said flow path therethrough and depositing on the portion of the ground which forms a part of said chamber.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which the portion of said passageway means and said casing which engages the ground is flexible to facilitate movement thereover.

7. An earth boring drill having apparatus secured thereto for disposing of the material drilled thereby comprising, a receptacle, passageway means defining an elongated flow path in which matter discharge from such a drill is entrained, said passageway means having a portion thereof located within said receptacle for changing direction of said flow path, an opening in the side of said portion of said passageway having the greatest radius of curvature with reference to said flow path for directing the heavier matter in said flow path therethrough, and movable means for closing said opening where-by such heavier matter entering such passageway means in carried therethrough in the flow path.

8. An apparatus for disposing of the material drilled by an earth boring drill comprising an elongated housing having one end closed and the other end open to the ground to define a chamber therewith, an elongated passageway located in said chamber wherein said passageway has one end portion communicating with a bore hole, said one end portion extends upwardly therefrom, said passageway having an opening at the other end thereof connecting said passageway to a conduit leading away from said housing defining a continuous flow path from said one end of said passageway through said other end of said passageway for the passage of a gaseous stream having foreign particles entrained therein, said passage- Way having an intermediate portion lying closely adjacent said one end of said housing extending laterally with respect to said upwardly extending portion, said passageway having means located in said intermediate portion cooperative therewith for extracting a portion of said foreign particles entrained in such gaseous stream for deposit in said chamber.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein a dust collector operatively connected to said conduit collects foreign particles entrained in the gaseous stream passing through said conduit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,144,586 Kelley Jan. 17, 1939 2,677,437 Wagner May 4, 1954 2,721,725 Biggs et al. Oct. 25, 1955 2,773,598 Castellani Dec. 11, 1956 2,781,185 Robbins Feb. 12, 1957 2,818,175 Thomas Dec. 31, 1957 2,838,282 Colquitt June 10, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 454,311 Germany Ian. 5, 1928 589,558 Germany Dec. 11, 1933 957,021 Germany Jan. 31, 1957 

